Household Hazardous Chemicals

Household products, such as cleaners, lawn or garden care, hobbies, antifreeze, pesticides, etc., can contain hazardous ingredients that can be harmful to human health and the environment and require proper and safe disposal. It is highly recommended, whenever possible, to purchase limited quantities of household hazardous products so that the amount of hazardous waste produced is limited.

Long term (permanent) drop-off facilities are available to Illinois residents for household hazardous chemical disposal. Below are long-term facilities. It is recommended to contact the facilities prior to visitation as hours may change during the year. Latex paint is not accepted at any drop-off facility.

Lead acid batteries, propane tanks, and fire extinguishers may be accepted depending on contractors. Please contact IEPA to verify if these items will be accepted at facilities.

Unacceptable Items

Agricultural Waste

Business/Commercial Waste

Explosives

Farm Machinery Oil

Fireworks

Institutional Waste

Latex Paint

Smoke Detectors

Latex Paint

Because latex, or water-based, paint is not hazardous due to water replacing most of the oil based components in paint, they are not accepted at any Illinois drop-off facility. The following are disposal alternatives for latex paint:

Donate extra paint to an organization or another individual that may use it. These may include charitable/non-profit groups, religious organizations, theater groups, family or neighbors

Host a Paint Swap where leftover paints can be swapped for other leftover or unused paints from family, friends, or neighbors

Keep painting. Place another coat of paint on or use as a primer

Paint other items or areas such as lumber pieces, inside of garages, or even furniture pieces

Store the paint for future use. Covering the top with a plastic wrap and securing the lid will help ensure that the paint will not leak and be maintained better

Proper disposal. If other alternatives can not be used and disposal is necessary, residents must open paint cans in well-ventilated areas (i.e. outdoors) and add an absorbent such as kitty litter, sand, oil-dry, or shredded paper into the paint cans. When the liquid paint is absorbed, and the paint is hardened, place lids back on the paint cans and dispose closed paint cans in regular refuse containers (not recycling!). If paint cans are full, residents must divide the paint into empty cans to solidify or repeat the absorbent process